GOTM 123 Spoiler

[Ali Ardavan]

Hopefully I can finish this before heading out of town, I am going to be super busy with real life in July. I built Marco in -850 and now know where all my rivals are.

Date Notes

-4000 Rome founded. Citizen on forest.
-3950 -> Alphabet
-3800 Warrior ready. Settler started.
-3650 Alphabet -> Ceremonial Burial. 50g from hut.
-3250 Empty hut.
-3150 Size 1 settler produced.
-3000 Veii founded south of Rome.
-2900 Ceremonial Burial -> Mapmaking
-2800 Nomad from hut founds Antium.
-2600 Mapmaking -> Code of Laws
-2550 Cumae founded.
-2350 Code of Laws -> Monarchy.
-2100 Neapolis founded.
-2050 Monarchy -> Bronze. Monarchy established. T3L0S7


Status at -2000
Population: 0.07M; Cities: 5; Techs: 5; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 4; Cost: 0; Trade routes: 0D0F;
Wonders:
Units: 1 settlers, 2 warriors
Goals: Expand in homeland. Explore nearby islands. Discover Trade. Build Marco.
Japanese: No contact
French: No contact
Spanish: No contact
Chinese: No contact
orange?: No contact
Sioux: No contact

-1950 First Trireme sets sail. Horseman from hut.
-1750 Bronze Working -> Currency.
-1700 Pompeii founded as the first offshore city on continent 1.
-1650 Ran into Spanish on continent 1. Code of Laws -> Spanish (4) -> peace. My power is already supreme.
-1500 Currency -> Trade. Archer from hut.
-1450 Pisae founded on continent 9.
-1400 100g from hut.
-1300 Ravenna founded. Found Chinese on continent 1.
-1200 Trade -> Mysticism. T7L0S3. None archer from hut.
-1050 Ran into Japanese on continent 10. My refusal to give them Mapmaking results in war. Hispalis founded on continent 10.
-1000 Trade -> Chinese -> Writing.

Status at -1000
Population: 0.19M; Cities: 9; Techs: 9; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 17; Cost: 0; Trade routes: 0D0F;
Wonders:
Units: 4 settlers, 6 soldiers, 2 trireme
Footprint: 6 cities on homeland, one city each on islands 1, 9, 10.
Goals: Expand in homeland and in nearby islands. Build Marco and Pyramids.
Japanese: No embassy
French: No contact
Spanish: No embassy
Chinese: No embassy
Carthaginian: No contact
Sioux: No contact

 

[Ali Ardavan]

-0975 Japanese lose a warrior attacking mine.
-0950 None chariot from hut.
-0925 Viroconium founded.
-0875 Legion from hut. Lugdunum founded.
-0850 Japanese lose another warrior on mine. Marco built.
Monarchy, Currency, Writing -> Carthaginian (1) -> Mysticism, Masonry, maps
Trade, Writing -> Sioux (0) -> maps, 50g
Writing -> Spanish (4) -> maps, 50g
Trade, Mapmaking, Writing -> French (2) -> Pottery, maps, 0g
-0825 -> Construction . Lutetia founded on island 3. 5 barbarians from hut near Paris kill my warrior the next turn.
-0800 Japanese kill a warrior. Seafaring from hut.
-0725 Byzantium founded on island 4. Nomad from hut on continent 1.
-0700 Math from hut.
-0675 Pyramids built. Advanced tribe founds Brundisium on island 5.
-0650 Construction -> Horseback riding. Construction -> Sioux (0) -> Horseback riding, 0g. Construction -> Carthaginian (2) -> 0g. Syracuse founded on island 1.
-0625 -> Literacy. T3L0S7. 6 barbarians from hut; my horseman kills one and is killed by others the next turn.
-0575 First structure, a harbor, built. Caesaraugusta founded on island 3.
-0550 Palmyra founded on island 9. Jerusalem founded on island 3.
-0525 Phalanx survives barbarian legion.
-0500 Phalanx survives barbarian horseman.

Status at -0500
Population: 0.48M; Cities: 18; Techs: 16; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 7; Cost: 1; Trade routes: 0D0F;
Ancient Wonders: Pyramids
Medieval Wonders: Marco
Units: 6 settlers (1 None), 5 Assault units, 4 trireme, 1 caravan
Footprint: 7 cities on homeland. 2, 3, 1, 3, 1, 1 cities on islands 1, 9, 10, 3, 4, 5.
Goals: Keep expanding. Get Philosophy. Fight Japanese. Start Trade.
Japanese: 3 cities, 6 techs; war with me
French: 2 cities, 9 techs; war with Carthaginians
Spanish: 2 cities, 9 techs
Chinese: 3 cities, 5 techs; war with Sioux
Carthaginian: 2 cities, 12 techs; war with French
Sioux: 2 cities, 16 techs; war with Chinese

-0475 Japanese lose a warrior attacking mine. Literacy -> Polytheism. T7L0S3. Catapult kills Phalanx defending Osaka. City razed for 41g and Iron Working. Advanced Tribe founds Caesarea on island 8.
-0400 Japanese lose a warrior attacking mine. Legion from hut.
-0375 Japanese legion kills my warrior. Tarentum founded on island 10.
-0350 Japanese warrior kills my caravan. Polytheism from hut. T3L0S7. Silk to French for 216 establishes the first trade route.
-0325 -> Philosophy. Nicomedia founded on island 3.
-0300 Philosophy -> Monotheism -> Warrior Code. Seleucia founded on island 8. Philosophy -> Sioux -> Warrior Code. Deliveries to Carthaginians for 104, 144.
-0275 Japanese kill my catapult. -> Bridge Building. Phalanx kills Japanese Warrior. 50g from hut.
-0250 Japanese archer lost in attack on my settler. Artaxata founded on island 4.
-0225 Sioux -> 50g. 50g from hut.
-0200 Aurelianorum founded on island 10. Crusader kills Japanese legion.
-0175 Bridge Building -> University. Crusader kills Japanese phalanx. Hippo Regius founded on island 5. Hides to Japanese for 64.
-0125 Japanese legion killed in attack on my Phalanx. Domestic Silk for 42.
-0100 Single defender of Edo killed and the city taken for 120g and Barracks. Accepted Japanese offer of 150g for cease fire. Nicopolis founded on island 3.
-0075 Londinium founded on island 10.
-0050 Eburacum founded on island 9.
-0025 University -> Medicine. Hanging Gardens built. Advanced tribe founds Arretium on island 5. Single defender of Kyoto killed and the city razed for 4g. Japanese civilization destroyed. Everyone ignores my demands for tribute.

Status at +0001
Population: 1.7M; Cities: 30; Techs: 24; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 3; Cost: 6; Trade routes: 4D3F;
Ancient Wonders: Pyramids, Hanging Gardens
Medieval Wonders: Marco
Units: 16 settlers (1 None), 14 Assault units, 4 trireme, 7 caravan
Footprint: 7 cities on homeland. 2, 4, 5, 5, 2, 3, 2 cities on islands 1, 9, 10, 3, 4, 5, 8.
Goals: Keep expanding and trading. Conquer Carthage followed by France.
Japanese: Destroyed by me
French: 2 cities, 14 techs; war with Carthaginians
Spanish: 3 cities, 11 techs
Chinese: 2 cities, 6 techs; war with Sioux
Carthaginian: 3 cities, 14 techs; war with French
Sioux: 2 cities, 22 techs; war with Chinese

 

[grigor]

I was very excited by my start, getting Monarchy in 2050BC, and I had unbelievable hut luck. By 1000BC I felt that green star was in the cards. But I lost my way and inexplicably did not go for MPE first. The last straw was the Spanish founding Toledo at the farthest possible location. So I think somebody elase gets the green star.

GOTM 123

4000 Build on site. Plan: size 1 settler, fast Monarchy. In Prince, no warriors necessary for happiness.
3950 Researching Alphabet
3900 switch to forest for size 1 settler
3500 Alph => CB
3250 Size 1 settler. Working fish for science and growth.
3150 Veii founded.
Status at 3000BC: 2 cities, no trade or AI contact

2950 CB=> Maps
2900 Veii warrior. Whale found.
2800 hut: 50g. PRB warrior in Veii. RB settler
2650 Maps =>CoL
2550 Antium on far coast
2500 RB settlers in Veii
2450 Veii starts trireme
2350 CoL=> Mon
2300 Cumae on river. Check Science beakers: 6/45, 8 per turn – should get to Mon in 2050.
2150 hut: nomads!
2050 Monarchy as advertised, instant revolt. Antium moves from silk to wheat.
2000 Neapolis with coal and fish.
Status at 2000BC; 5 cities, gov: Monarchy, no trade or AI contact.

1950 Trireme in Antium.
1850 Rome settler, Veii trireme. Second whale. Japanese sighted to the South
1800BW=>Curr. Hut: pottery
1600 Pompeii on continent 9 on river.
1500 Curr, but Trade not Available. =>HB
1450 Antium charged settlers and wariior leave on trireme E
1400 settler disembarks on Wheat. hut: HB. =>trade
1250 Neapolis, Cumae settlers
1200 Trade ->Poly. Pop hut before founding – nomads! Found Pisae
1100 Ravenna. Spot Carthage – should be takeable at Prince by 2 vet Ellies.
1000 hut: archers (pompeii)

Status at 1000BC: 8C, gov Monarchy. Still no trade or AI contact

975 Hispalis oncontinent 9. Viriconium on continent 3
950 Poly =>writ. Buy barracks in Pisae
925 Lugdunum on continent 1, whale and buffalo
900 hut: elephant (Viriconium). Hut: elephant (ravenna)
875 Carthaginian elephant spotted.
850 french phalanx loses to Cart elephant. Hut: 25g
825 Writing=>Seaf. Beijing spotted
800 hut: tribe.
775 Sioux: trade HB, Map making for masonry
750 French: war. Attack Orleans
725 french attack out of orleans and lose. Orleans captured. 39G, Seaf
700 Brundisium. (14) =>WC for Feudalism and Sun Tzu
675 Siouz ask us to withdraw: War
650 Rome: Pyramids.
625 Carthage conquered with 2 ellies as planned. Paris destroyed, xFrench
600 Utica found on river. Attacked anyway – elephant dies. I will need 4 ellies.
575 hut: 50g

Status at 500BC: Cities: 15C.
Gov: Monarchy.
Wonders: Pyramids.
AI contact: Carts: War.
Chinese: spotted.
Sioux: War.
French: destroyed by me.
Japanese: spotted.
Working on Feudaluism for Sun Tzu. Goals: destroy Sioux, expand, destroy Carts with 4 vet ellies.

475 Feud => Chiv
450 Wounded Knee captured: Sioux destroyed. RT Rest to restrategize.
New goal: MPE next to find AI.
425 MPE:
Japs 3C 278g
Spanish 1C 150g
Chinese 4C 187g
Carts 2C, Math 189g
Japs: give HB, get maps. War
Spanish: give Myst, Seaf, get maps, tribute 150g!
Chinese: give Myst, Seaf, Pots, Map Making. Get Maps, tribute 150g
Carts won't talk.
400 Utica captured, 69g, Math. Carts: war
375 Malaca found.
350 refuse to withdraw from Chinese: war. Chiv=>Lit.
325 Malaca taken, 56g. Xcarts. Ellie immolates self on Japanese archer. Need vets.
300 Beijing razed. Shanghai captured.
275 Canton razed
250 moving towads Madrid and Seville.
225 Madrid conquered. Where is Toledo?
200 Kyoto razed. Seville razed – x Chinese.
175 hut: 50g
150 Osaka.
125 Edo. xJap. Toledo found at the ends of the earth.
75 Lit =>Republic
50 Veii HG
25 lux up and build cities.
10 AD Spanish walk into Tarentum, but it is size 1 and is destroyed. Toledo captured. X Spanish.

 

[Ali Ardavan]

Wow! You finished in year +10. I think Green star is a high possibility.

 

[grigor]

Ali -

Thanks, but not if Peaster is playing this month.

 

[Ali Ardavan]

I was very excited by my start, getting Monarchy in 2050BC, and I had unbelievable hut luck. By 1000BC I felt that green star was in the cards. But I lost my way and ...

My early hut luck was very good too. The Nomad in -2800 which founded my third city immediately made a big difference. I thought it went very well till +1 having already eliminated one rival and ready to attack two others. Unfortunately I kept expanding and trading when it was no longer necessary. I should have used my resources for another invasion force to eliminate the rivals on continent 1 at the same time my original force was going after Carthaginians and French. This game took much longer than needed and near the end became boring. I finished earlier today.

 

[Ali Ardavan]

+0010 Gordion built as the final city on home island. Agrippina founded on island 3.
+0020 Cyrene founded on island 3. Domestic wine for 54. Tyrus founded on island 1.
+0030 Silver to French for 240.
+0040 Medicine -> Chemistry. Deliveries to Carthaginians for 156, 76. Salt to Chinese for 72.
+0050 Single defender of Carthage killed and the city taken for 30g. Iron Working -> Spanish -> Wheel.
+0060 Chemistry -> Astronomy.
+0070 Single defender of Utica killed and the city taken for 56g.
+0090 Michelangelo built. French -> 50g. Single defender of Paris killed and the city taken for 2g. Verona founded on island 8. Domestic Gems for 48.
+0100 Domestic Silk for 126. Corfinium founded on island 2.
+0110 Astronomy -> Engineering. Orleans bribed for 265g. French civilization destroyed. Gold to Spanish for 228. Domestic deliveries for 36, 96.
+0120 Engineering -> Invention. Mediolanum founded on island 8. Silver to Madrid for 60.
+0130 Treveri founded on island 10. Domestic deliveries for 80, 44, 92, 114.
+0140 Sirmium founded on island 4. Domestic delivery for 84. Single defender of Malaca killed and the city razed for 28g. Carthaginian civilization destroyed.
+0150 Chinese civilization destroyed by Sioux. Thank you Sioux! Invention -> Navigation. Augustadorum founded on island 3.
+0170 Domestic deliveries for 20, 48. Trapezus founded on island 5.
+0180 Domestic deliveries for 21, 26.
+0190 Navigation -> Physics. Domestic deliveries for 18. Foreign deliveries for 28. Madrid razed. T7L0S3
+0200 Leo built. Domestic deliveries for 28. Beijing subverted for 2x114g. Single defender of LittleBigHorn killed and the city taken for 12g. Bagacum and Lauriacum founded.
+0210 Spanish kill a crusader. Teurnia and Curia founded. Domestic deliveries for 14.
+0220 Spanish Catapult bribed for 234. Naples founded. Single defender of Wounded Knee killed and the city captured.
+0230 Domestic deliveries for 50, 48, 27, 7. Issus founded.
+0240 Physics -> Gunpowder. Lost crusader in attack on Spanish Phalanx.
+0250 2 defenders of Seville killed and the city razed. Toledo bribed for 110g. Spanish civilization destroyed. Shanghai bribed for 110. Sioux civilization destroyed.

 

[Inkerman]

"Ah, Inkerman thankyou for coming to see me."

Yes, hello, apologies for being a bit late, I'm just terribly sorry I know I wasn't paying proper attention.

"Yes indeed, it's not very good is it, we do try and have high standards here and this is really letting things down quite badly. You are now well past AD500 and the room is looking pretty empty. Perhaps let us go back and consider the comparative AD1 positions. At this point Mr Grigor is one turn away from finishing. Mr Ardavan has 30 cities. And, erm, you seem to have two cities and have made very little progress in your supposed conquest?"

Yes, sir.

"Why is that then?"

I may have only recently realised that one city challenge is a poor choice for this game.

"Oh for goodness sake. That will be all Mr Inkerman."

 

[Ali Ardavan]

Starting position is indeed poor for OCC. Did you build your city there or further south with access to whales or SW with access to rivers? Isn't +500 kind of early to give up on OCC? Typical OCC goes to 1800s if not 1900s....

I just realized that this was a win by conquest game. Did you overlook that? In fact, that is why I did not do an OCC myself. I have seen one case of OCC by conquest (GOTM 19, if I recall correctly, and it was done by kev) and have heard of others but have never tried one myself. It is more difficult than wining OCC by space ship.

 

[Inkerman]

Yes I moved a bit south before building the city. It was 300BC when I realised a win by conquest was needed, and I called off the one city challenge. It does put other mistakes, like forgetting to change government, in the shade (as we say.)

 

[Major Advantage]

I didn't even try to finish as early as possible, instead I went for score by expansion + population and wonder building, while still finishing not too late.
It was a little irritating that the chinese didn't name their cities. (This must have something to do with the downgrade from MGE to classic, it's the same with german AIs)

Here is my log:

-4000 Rom founded, warrior for exploration
-3950 choose Alphabet first
-3800 Warrior > settler, work on forest for size1 trick
-3750 hut: pottery
-3450 hut: nothing
-3100 Alphabet -> Bronze working, Rom settler
-3000 hut: Riding
-2950 Veii founded (at two whale site), settler
-2800 reveal 1st whale with warrior
-2500 Bronze -> CB, Rom settler
-2400 Island completely revealed, not great at all
-2250 Antium founded (with access to wheat and silk)
-2150 Cumae founded (on river with access to pheasant)
-2000 CB -> Code of Laws (nice surprise, must be joker tech)
-1750 Rome settler -> north for city
-1700 Veii settler -> start roads till triremes available
-1600 CoL -> Monarchy
-1550 Cumae, Antium settlers, Neapolis founded
-1250 Monarchy (Revolt & establish) -> Map making
-1000 Veii temple (nothing else to build)
-950 Map making -> Currency, Pompeji founded
-900 Rome trireme
-850 Veii trireme
-825 Meet chinese on cont. 1: give pottery, monarchy, get currency
-800 research to trade
-775 trade -> Writing
-750 start minig hill at 4-special-site on cont. 10 for city
-675 Hill Valley (cont.#10) founded
-600 meet japanese give some techs, get Iron working, peace, maps
-575 writing -> Literacy, meet spanish, give some techs, get mysticism, no maps
-525 hut on cont.#3: nomad
-500 Ravenna founded (cont.#3)
-425 Hispalis founded (cont.#9), nomad on cont.#3
-375 Literacy -> Polytheism (Philo blocked)
-350 Viroconium founded (cont.#4)
-325 Salt(d) Rom-> Unknown chinese city 104g, Marco complete, peace and maps with all, get masonry
-300 hut: construction, unload 2 vans near Kyoto
-225 Japan demands 50g tribute, refuse, war; beads(d) 128g and salt(d) 120g to Kyoto, Lutetia (cont.#4)
-200 Philo -> Republic -> Monotheism, change some production to elephants
-125 Bribe Edo 312g (106+Wheel)
-100 attack Osaka with two Ellies, failed
(Jap Archer kills Legion on hill)
-50 bribe Jap legion 122g, Byzanz founded
10 AD. capture Osaka (71g + Warrior code), sign peace with jap

Stats at 10 A.D.:
Pop: 650k, cities: 15, Trade routes: 2D3F; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 335; Cost per turn: 1; Total advances: 21;
Wonders: Marco
Units: 9 settlers, 1 Warrior, 5 Phalanx, 2 Legion, 1 horse, 3 Elephant, 4 Trireme, 3 Diplomat, 0 Caravan
peace with all

20 Revolution
30 Republic established T2S8L0
50 Monotheism -> Engineering
60 Brundisium founded
70 Syrakus founded
100 Engineering -> Banking
120 Caesaraugusta founded (cont.#3)
130 25g from hut (cont.#8)
140 Barb leader 50g, Nomads on cont.#8
150 Banking -> Invention, Hides(d)>Wounded Knee 120g
160 Palmyra founded (cont.#9)
170 Jerusalem (cont.#3) & Caesarea (cont.#8) founded, alliance with carths (join war with french, boat and dip nearby)
180 Prepare for Invention (Leo-upgrade for ellis, then attack Kyoto)
190 Invention -> Democracy bribe Orleans 616g (104 back)
200 Leo built
210 Advanced tribe (Tarentum) on cont.#5, Demand Jap retreat, they comply
220 get seafaring from chinese (for Literacy), NONE crusader from hut
240 Demo -> Gunpowder, huts: Legion & 100g
250 Bordeaux founded (southwest of Paris)
280 rush 30s for Statue of Liberty, Revolution
290 SoL built, Fundy established, demand Jap tribute: 50g, Advanced tribe (Seleucia, cont.#5))
300 Attack Paris with Crusader+Legion, emptied, attack Barb Legion outside Lugdunum, lost
(Lugdunum captured by barbs, 20g)
310 lose Crusader outside Paris
320 lose Legion outside Paris, attack failed, Lugdunum bribed back 78g (Legion + Dip)
330 Gunpowder -> Bridge Building (still hoping Sioux will be done with Math someday)
340 Attack Kyoto, fail, spain won't trade Math for Invention, I don't want to give them gunpowder, Math stolen
350 Pyramids built, hut 50g
360 land troups outside Madrid
(Sioux-Spanish war again)
370 Artaxata founded (cont.#3), Talk to Sioux, no war-invitation, 100g tribute, Sneak attack Spain, cap Madrid
Outside Paris: 1 crusader, 2 Musketeer
380 Paris (and whole french civ) destroyed, crusader lost
390 Sevilla bribed 122g (116 back), spanish destroyed
410 Finally! Kyoto conquered (89g + Feudalism), Japanese destroyed

Near-future plans: Get better government when ready, more science, develop civilization
tech goals: explosives, Theology, railroad
next wonders: Michealangelo (almost done), Bach, Darwin(?)
Take-over-plans:
Carths: port cities in cont.#3+4
Chinese: Flotillas/dips from Palmyra/Hispalis (cont.#9)
Sioux: Delay for key-civ-reasons

(Carths land outside Syrakus)
420 Aurelianorum founded (cont.#5), Hippo Regius founded (cont.#8), Revolution
430 Democracy established
440 New Paris founded (where old Paris was)
450 subvert chinese city (2*168g), 79 in return, rename Nanking
460 Bridge Buiding -> Theology, dump some techs to Sioux (not Gunpowder)
500 Theology -> University

Stats at 520 A.D.:
Pop: 4.18M, cities: 36, Trade routes: ?; Government: Democracy
Gold: 464; Cost per turn: 20; Total advances: 32;
Wonders: Marco, Pyramids, Mike's, Leo, SoL
Units: 17 settlers, 19 Musketeer, 11 Crusader, 10 Trireme, 8 Diplomat, 1 Caravan, 1 Explorer
peace with all

520 Eburacum founded, contact Carths, give Invention, Wheel, change maps, I start not-trusting the Carths
550 University -> Medicine, start some celebrations
570 Arretium founded (cont.#5)
580 Medicine -> Chemnistry, celebrations cancelled
590 Bach cathedral completed; Tyrus(9), Agrippinia(8), Cyrene(5), Gordion(3) founded
600 Chemnistry -> Explosives
610 Calais (2) founded (channel city on french-carth-continent)
620 Explosives -> Astronomy
630 Hides(d) 168g + Coal(n) 54g to Karthago
640 Astronomy -> Navigation, prepare attack on China in 2 turns, move troops towards Carths
650 dome domestic deliveries
665 Carth steal medicine! Cancel alliance
670 Navigation -> Physics, demand Carth retreat, complied, subvert Caralais (2*324g, 54 in return)
No Sioux invitation to chinese war, delayed
680 Physics -> Magnetism
690 Sign alliance with Sioux for Navigation and war with chinese, give physics, get 100g gift
attack China, cap city (67g & GL), senate forces peace
700 Magnetism -> Steam engine, contact Sioux, rejoin their war with China, bribe city 165g (133 return)
720 Steam engine -> Railroad
740 Railroad -> Metallurgy
760 Metallurgy -> Econimics, bribe last chinese City 236g (99+60), REVOLUTION, sneak attack Karthago
Emptied with Ironclad, captured (154g), bribe Utica 490g (148+60), bribe Malaca 168g (36), Carth empire destroyed

Plan: expand demo-celebrating, Take over Little Bighorn from Sea asap

790 Economics -> Industry
800 Darwin built Ind. -> Sanitation -> Corporation, celebrations stopped for more science
810 Corporation -> Electricity
820 50g Barbs, 25g Sioux, ready to attack Little Bighorn

plan: sneak attack & capture LB, build some wonders, subvert last Sioux cities

830 Electricity -> Conscription, 25g gift from Sioux
840 Alliance cancelled
850 Conscription -> Genet. Engineering
860 Magellan completed
870 Revolution, attack Little Bighorn with destroyer, not emptied yet
880 Colossus built, Demo re-established, Little Bighorn captured (35g), Three Forks bribed 232g (27), cease fire plan: clebrate, build wonders, bribe last cities
890 Treveri founded, subvert Wounded Knee (2*224g; )
920 HG finished
940 pollution , final dip built and crossing the mountains
950 Shakespeare built
960 Oracle, Eiffel Tower, Great Wall, Kopernikus built, dip in bribe position, rush Lighthouse
970 LH built, settle down most engineers, subvert final city (Slim Buttes), world conquered

 

[Inkerman]

You may recall I played for some time before realising it was a conquest game, which was a pity as I had gone with a one city challenge plan.

I have now finished and submitted files, ending year 1580. As I said this blunder may enable everyone else to be above average in the table of results.

It is not worth saying very much about the play, as although come the big war the others had Monotheism they didn't have gunpowder, and ironclads were particularly devastating.

I thought the small map and somewhat difficult terrain made the middle game play in my unusual variant a bit different, although at Prince the others don't try too hard. Post-game analysis of the map: Grass 6%, Plain 9%, Hills 12%, Forest 7%, River 3%.

 

[haleewud]

I actually finished this GOTM on June 17th. I just didn't have time to write it up before now.

GOTM 123

4000 Build Rome on site.
3950 Researching Alphabet
3750 Rome builds Warrior
3700 Switch worker to Fish for Science, Hut - Horse
3600 Alph => CoL
3550 Hut - Nomad
3450 Veii founded at 45,19
3350 Hut - Horse
3050 Col => Map Making

Status at -3000
Population: 0.04M; Cities: 2; Trade routes: 0D0F; Government: Despotism
Gold: 2; Cost per turn: 0; Total advances: 2; Production: 6 MT; 0 polluted tiles
Wonders:
Units: 1 warrior, 2 Horse
Japanese: No contact
French: No contact
Spanish: No contact
Chinese: No contact
Carthaginians: No contact
Sioux: No contact


2950 Rome build settler, disband warrior
2700 Antium founded at 50,32
2650 Map Making => CB
2600 Veii builds settler
2250 CB => Mon
2100 Cumae founded at 43,25
2050 Antium Trireme, Rome Settler
2000 100K

Status at -2000
Population: 0.10M; Cities: 4; Trade routes: 0D0F; Government: Despotism
Gold: 50; Cost per turn: 0; Total advances: 4; Production: 13 MT; 0 polluted tiles
Wonders:
Units: 1 settler, 2 Horse, 1 Trireme
Japanese: No contact
French: No contact
Spanish: No contact
Chinese: No contact
Carthaginians: No contact
Sioux: No contact


1950 Hut - Barb Legion
1900 Horse survives Legion attack (horse was on Mountain)
1850 Monarchy => BW, Revolution, Monarchy establish
1700 Meet Sioux warrior (on their turn), they demand Map Making, given. Peace Trade Monarchy for BW (choices were BW, HBR, Masonry and WC). Start Currency. Veii builds settler. Neapolis founded at 46,10.
1650 Antium builds settler
1600 Pompeii founded at 37,19
1550 Hut - Nomad
1500 Curr => Trade, Pisae founded at 44,32
1450 Hut - HBR
1400 Meet Spanish (Icy) they demand MM, given, Peace. Rome builds settler
1350 Cumae builds settler
1300 Ravenna founded at 57,16
1250 Trade => Myst. Hut - Archer
1200 Find Wounded Knee
1100 Hispalis founded at 50,40
1050 Meet Japanese (receptive). Offer WC for MM, no, Peace, Give MM, worshipful, trade maps. Hut - 1 barb horse
1000 Warrior survives Horse attack. Myst => Poly, Hut - Nomad

Status at -1000
Population: 0.29M; Cities: 9; Trade routes: 0D0F; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 189; Cost per turn: 0; Total advances: 10; Production: 35 MT; 0 polluted tiles
Wonders:
Units: 2 settlers, 3 warrior, 1 Archer, 2 Horse, 2 Trireme
Japanese: No embassy, Cordial, Peace
French: No contact
Spanish: No embassy, Neutral, Peace
Chinese: No contact
Carthaginians: No contact
Sioux: No embassy, Neutral, Peace

975 Pisae builds settler. Virconium founded at 30,34. Hut 5 barb horse, 2 barb legions
950 Sioux send emissary (Neutral) WC for Trade, no Cancel treaty with Spanish, no. Demand Trade, given, also give Alpha+Curr+Col. Enthusiastic but won't trade Maps. 300K, Hut - Nomad
900 Poly => Writing. Pompeii van (gems), Antium van (beads), Veii van (food) Lugdumum founded at 27,27
875 Lutetia founded at 42,10
825 Writing => Literacy. Spanish send emissary (uncooperative), Trade tech? no, Cancel treaty with Sioux, no, Demand Must, no.
800 Sneak attck by Japanese kills warrior in Hispalis. Ravenna builds first Elephant. Cumae van (food), Rome van (food). Byzantium founded at 34,12
775 Hispalis is destroyed (Japanese get 10g + Myst), 400K
725 Antium van (food)
700 Neapolis van (Silver). Literacy => Philosophy. Antium Beads to Kyoto for 112g. Kill Japanese Chariot. Contact Sioux, They demand Literacy, given. Also give writing and Myst. Exchange Maps (Tech Cost is 140)
675 Ravenna builds diplomat. Philosophy => Mono => WC. 500K
650 Archer survives Japanese Archer attack (Vet). Antium and Veii build first Crusaders. Rome builds Dip. 4 vans to Antium
625 Antium builds MPE. Kill Phalanx in Kyoto. Destroy Kyoto (size 1) get 37g + WC
Japanese: 190g, 7adv, 1 city, Despotism, Enraged, War with Romans,
French: 186g, 6adv, 2 cities, Despotism, Uncooperative, War with Carths
Spanish: 197g, 7adv, 2 cities, Despotism, Uncooperative, War with Sioux
Chinese: 98g, 3adv, 2 cities, Despotism, Enthusiastic, War with Sioux
Carthaginians: 241g, 8adv, 2 cities, Despotism, Cordial, War with French
Sioux: 207g, 14adv, 4 cities, Monarchy, Enthusiastic, War with Spanish and Chinese

Contact Carths. Give Myst, Peace, Give Philo exchange maps
Contact Chinese. Peace. Give Lit+Philo+Writ+Trade+Mon+MM exchange maps
Bribe Spanish warrior 43g, phalanx 94g

600 Japanese emisaary demands Philo, no. Cease-Fire, no. Start Feudalism. 600K. Kill Japanese warrior, Vet ele.
575 Neapolis Silver to Antium for 90g
550 Feudalism => Medicine. Kill Phalanx in Osaka. Bribe size 1 Osaka for 62g, get 93g+Wheel+Phalanx next to Osaka. Japanese destroyed.
525 Cumae van (food)
500 Pisae van (food). Bribe Spanish Warrior 59g. Send emissary to Sioux I ask for Alliance (I don't want demands while I am in Sioux territory near Seville), They want me to help crush Chinese, accepted.

Status at -500
Population: 0.75M; Cities: 13; Trade routes: 2D0F; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 285; Cost per turn: 0; Total advances: 18; Production: 58 MT; 0 polluted tiles
Wonders: MPE
Units: 1 settlers, 9 warrior, 2 Phalax, 1 Archer, 1 Horse, 2 Elephants, 5 Crusaders, 4 Trireme, 1 Dip, 3 Caravans
Japanese: destroyed
French: 201g, 7adv, 2 cities, Despotism, Uncooperative, Peace with Romans, War with Carths
Spanish: 208g, 7adv, 2 cities, Despotism, Neutral, Peace with Romans, War with Sioux
Chinese: 113g, 9adv, 2 cities, Despotism, Receptive, War with Romans, War with Sioux
Carthaginians: 251g, 10adv, 2 cities, Despotism, Cordial, Peace with Romans, War with French
Sioux: 227g, 14adv, 4 cities, Monarchy, Enthusiastic, Allied with Romans, War with Spanish and Chinese

475 Pompeii Gems to LBH for 168g. Bribe Spanish warrior 60g. Attack Seville (break treaty) Kill Archer. Bribe size 1 Seville 67g, get 42g+Masonry
450 Antium van (food). Hut - tribe (Brundisium at 20,18).
425 Spanish Emissary, CF? no. Sioux develop Construction. Rome van (food), 800K. Kill Spanish warrior
400 Spanish develop IW. Hut - Theology
375 Spanish Archer kills 2 Crusaders. Medicine => IW. Antium van (food). Kill Archer and Settler in size 2 Madrid. Madrid destroyed. Spanish destroyed. Set T/L/S to 70/30/00.
350
325 Sioux start GL. Cumae van food). 900K. Demand tribute from Carths (hoping for war, get 25g). Attack Carthage, break treaty. Kill Phalanx in Carthage. Capture Carhtage (83g+IW). 6 vans to Cumae.
300 Viroconium van Beads). Cumae builds Sun Tzu's.
275 Pisae van (Hides). Disorder in Neaplois. Carth emissary, CF? no. Kill Carth Phalanx and Settler (stacked).
250 Order restored in Neapolis. Kill Archer and Warrior in size 2 Utica. Utica destroyed. Carths destroyed.
225 Hut Nomad
200 Sioux destroy Shanghai (get Philo). Disorder in Pisae. Seville Dip. Hut Non-Legion. Found Syracuse at 61,25
175 Order restore in Pisae. Veii van (Silk). French send emissary, demand Literacy, No, WAR.
150 Crusader survives French attack. Kill warrior in Beijing. Capture Beijing (59g). Chinese destroyed. Kill Phalanx in Paris. Capture Paris (49g+Pottery). French emissary, CF? no. Cancel alliance with Sioux.
125 Kill French warrior and settler, Set T/L/S to 30/00/70
100 Start Math. Viroconium van (Silk). Disorder in Pisae
75 Order restored in Pisae. Cumae van (Beads).
50 Crusader survives attack from Lyons. Pompeii van (Salt). Capture undefended Lyons (49g). Kill 2 phalanx in Orleans. Capture Orleans (35g) French destroyed. Break Treaty with Sioux. Kill Archer in Wounded Knee. Capture Wounded Knee (45g+Construction). Kill Phalax in Canton (1 Crus died). Capture Canton (35g). Bribe Sioux Phalanx for 197g
25 Ele and Crus killed near Cedar Creek. Crusader killed in Canton, Canton destroyed. Viroconium Silk to Rome for 114g. Bribe Sioux Archer (near Cedar Creek). Cedar Creek wants 453g. Archer kills Archer in Cedar Creek. Bribe size 2 Cedar Creek for 151g (get 60g). Viroconium beads (UD) to Rome for 38g.
1AD Pisae van (Silk). Osaka Settler. CArthage Settler. Pisae Hides to Ravenna for 64g. Kill Archer in LBH (1 defender left).
10 AD Kill Archer in LBH. Found Caesaraugusta at 32,40. Kill last defender in LBH. LBH destroyed (77g). Sioux destroyed.

 

[Peaster]

I decided to play this gotm for EC with no Wonders. With a small map, it is unlikely we'll really need LH, or MPE. At Prince level, we won't need HG. I was willing to change my mind about this, if needed, but it wasn't. Also, I never researched Trade, so it would've been hard to switch plans and build WoWs.

I'm not saying this is the best strategy here, but it seemed worth a try. This is pretty much the "lean EC" strategy developed by Grigor, though I probably build more cities than he would, and I think he usually includes MPE (which usually seems wise).

4000BC: I founded Rome on the starting spot and began the size 1 trick.

3350: Settler goes south for city 2. (..and alph->cl->mm, hut = 50g..)

2400, 2350: City 3 and 4. mm -> cb.

1650: Monarchy --> wri (no need for BW-Curr-etc)

1500: 1st "flotilla" departs ... just one Settler really. 7 cities on the main island now, I never made any more there. Now I am paying close attention to "nearest city" info, "Top 5 cities", etc to compensate for the info gap from a missing MPE.

1200: wri --> hbr, and 2 more flots. hut = nomads. Meets the Japs. War.

1000: Meet the Cars and trade techs, for hbr and Poly !. A bit of luck. I was half-expecting to begin my conquests with chariots or horses. I wasn't very lucky at getting AI maps, but this didn't create big problems.

Stats: 10 cities, monarchy, 3S,

Plans: Find all the AI, mainly via "nearest" info, but maybe via emabssy info or AI maps. Also, I made a schedule of the number of cities, boats, elephants, etc I wanted in 750BC, 500BC and 250BC which turned out to be pretty accurate. I wanted to finish around 250BC with about 20 cities, 20 boats, and 15 elephants. I'll make dips as needed, and explorers (if I can get Seaf), mostly towards the end. I'll try to gather some gold mainly via tribute, to pay for bribes and RBs.

675BC: Message "French destroyed by Carths" was misread as "French destroy the Carths", which led to great confusion, but no serious harm.

600BC: Carths sneak attack (etc) and I lose a few good units in this period, but the planned build-up continues pretty much as planned.

575BC: Japanese destroyed. I broke my own "Farthest First" principle, due to the lack of good map info. Also, these attackers could be re-used. I am learning that Seville is a Sioux city, and Orleans is Carthaginian, etc, which creates an interesting logic puzzle, to guess where the remaining AI are based. Slightly unlucky = I expanded first to the South, but most AI were to the North.

400BC: Chinese destroyed. I've gather about 600g from tribute (for cease fires, etc) but sneaked back vs the Carths and quickly became dispicable. Now, the 3 other AI have been found and the capitols are falling....

I guess I won't reveal the EC date (though if there is a rule against that, I don't see why). Anyway, it was well before 1AD. I am not sure what to conclude about the No-WoW strategy yet. Probably it is OK, but not as crucial to the final result as the fundamentals, like ICS and making boats + elephants.

 

[Peaster]

Grigor - Why Pyramids ? This is useful with my Fat EC style, which works better on large "slow" maps. Also, I think Feudalism + SunTzu doesn't fit your lean style, which seems ideal for this map. I have seen you conquer with horses and chariots [non-vet, IIRC]; I don't think you need vet ellies here, or not many.

Comparing logs, I don't see huge differences in our growth rates, etc. I'm guessing you had problems with transportation + map info, possibly from a lack of enough boats. I didn't see your stats on that to be sure, and now notice I didn't provide mine. I had approx 7 in 750BC and approx 15 in 500BC. I had "nearest city" info, or map info, on almost all AI cities by then. I was probably lucky that no AI cities were founded very late in my game. But I was trying to keep an eye on known AI settlers, with a few explorers and map updates, so I might have been prepared for that.

I guess we aren't to share scores here, but I'll proudly say that mine was under 50 !